Ben Stokes hit out at critics after England faced a strong backlash for their eight-wicket defeat to Australia in the Ashes opener, where they were dismantled by Mitchell Starc’s seven-wicket haul and Travis Head’s 69-run century. The match ended in two days, which is what happened the third shortest Ashes Test in history.
After the loss, Ian Botham, Mitchell Johnson and several others criticized England’s approach. Johnson previously branded the team “arrogant” in his column for The West Australian, while Botham said Stokes and his men could return home if they were unwilling to change their methods.
Stokes responded by saying that questioning England’s performance is fair, but calling them arrogant is not. He acknowledged England faltered in Perth but insisted they still have their moments.
“Look, you can call us rubbish, call us what you want. We didn’t have the Test match we wanted. We were brilliant in passages of this game but I think the arrogance can go a bit too far,” Stokes said ahead of England training on Saturday.
“But that’s fine. We’ll take the rough with the smooth. I’d prefer words like ‘trash’ but ‘arrogant’ I’m not so sure about,” Stokes said.
ENGLAND ARE DESPERATE
After the setback in Perth, England will be looking to bounce back when they start the pink-ball Test at The Gabba in Brisbane on December 4. Stokes said the visitors will never give up and will give it their all to draw level in Brisbane and keep their Ashes hopes alive.
Also Read: The Ashes: Ben Stokes leaves shocked by Travis Head’s masterclass in Perth Test
“We know there will be a lot of disappointed fans in England after that first defeat. But it’s a five-match series, we’ve got four games to go, we’ve lost the first one – we’re absolutely desperate to come home with that goal before we’ve even started the series, which is to win the Ashes,” Stokes said.
England have struggled in Australia since Andrew Strauss led them to a 3-1 series victory in 2010-11, losing 14 of their last 16 Tests, with the remaining two drawn. They have won just three of 22 Tests at the Gabba, with their last win coming in 1986. They now need to end a 39-year wait if they hope to level the series.
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Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
November 29, 2025
